Monday, March 31, 2014

Lady luck and me

I've had a streak of luck again lately with blog giveaways and I wanted to share my winnings and say thank you to the bloggers who hosted the generous giveaways. Please stop by their blogs and say hello. You'll love what you see. I'd also like to put my own readers on alert: watch this space because I have a little something up my own sleeve.

I won this beautiful handmade wool fairy doll in a giveaway on Elaina's blog, A little bit country. Elaina held her giveaway in conjunction with a friend, Emma, of Little Anahera. Emma makes these dolls in New Zealand, where she lives. When I won, I was asked what color I'd like my doll to be and I told them purple because that's my favorite color. The doll is made with several different shades of purple, and she holds a bouquet of wool flowers in shades of pink, purple and blue. I really love this doll. She is beautiful and delicate. I had originally planned to display her in the GB's room, but when I realized how detailed and fragile she is, I decided to put her in a safer spot instead. She's in our dining room hutch, where she can be seen through the glass windows and she looks very pretty among the dainty collectibles I keep inside. Thank you for my lovely little purple fairy, Emma and Elaina.

I won this watercolor painting in a giveaway on Jessica's blog, Jessie Lilac. Jessica is a very talented painter. She creates beautiful folk-art scenes of animals, plants and people. I really like her work because it's colorful and whimsical, with a touch of the ethereal too. I'm sorry this photo is a little funny but I was trying to capture the detail in Jessica's painting; the colors are beautifully shaded and there is a lot of fine detail in the cat figures and the flowers. In her giveaway, Jessica offered two paintings and asked her readers to choose the one they'd like to win. This one just called out to me. I love the colors and the sweet little green-striped cat with the big pink spotty one, it must be a mama cat and her kitten. As an enthusiast of all things affectionate and motherly, I just had to have this painting. Luckily, I was the winner and now it lives with me. I'm still looking for the perfect spot. This prize just might be destined for the GB's room because the colors would work perfectly in there. I think I will frame it nicely first. This is the first piece of real art I've ever owned and I'm really proud to have it. Thank you, Jessica.

This giveaway was a fantastic bounty of goodies. I won these items from Pam, at Virginia Retro. Pam is a collector of vintage table linens, dishware, glasses and other housewares. Her collections are incredible and she puts together fabulous tablescapes with her vintage pieces (I learned about tablescapes from her blog; I'd never heard of this term before but now I'm all about tablescapes here at home with my limited selection of pretty linens and table decor). I knew I'd be winning lots of interesting things in Pam's giveaway, and that there was a Saint Patrick's Day theme, but she sent even more than I'd expected. Pam included a beautiful embroidered tablecloth and napkin set with a grape motif, a very pretty vintage half-apron, vintage note cards and postcards (some of them written on and mailed long ago, so interesting!), an adorable hand-made Saint Patrick's decoration and other spring- and Easter-themed items like window gel-clings, a pretty handmade card with a note from Pam, a vintage potholder, a small Christmas cross-stitch kit, and gifts for my kids too, including a Beanie Baby rabbit, plastic stencils and books! I really enjoy seeing what Pam's been up to with her vintage-marketing excursions and her home decorating. This giveaway was very generous and I feel privileged to have some of Pam's thrifty and vintage finds. Thank you, Pam.

Once again, I feel grateful and honored to be part of this lovely blogging community. Thank you to my readers old and new for coming back to visit and for being supportive and friendly. I'm so glad I started blogging! To think that I once felt skeptical that anyone would read my blog at all, let alone keep coming back. I'm blowing kisses to you, my friends!

41 comments:

Wow oh Wow, Jennifer! You certainly have received so many wonderful gifts. I am in awe of felters. Such detail in some of their work. It's amazing and your little doll is lovely. The painting is very fun! And all the gifts from Pam, goodness! It's like Christmas! Enjoy and have a great new week. Tammy

Wonderful Jennifer, lucky you. Purple's my favourite colour as well (hence the purple daffodil on my Mother's Day card!), and your little wool fairy is beautiful. I love Jessie Lilac's paintings too, they are always so happy and positive. I'm off right now to have a look at Virginia Retro and learn about tablescapes!

Beautiful gifts Jennifer, I'm sure you love each and every one of them - much talent abounds in blogland, as well as much generosity and it is as big a blessing to give as it is to receive.Enjoy your gifts and your week, Joy xo

You have received some really pretty gifts, Jennifer. The fairy is exquisite, and must look a treat among the dainty collectables. As for the painting, it is too cute for words and aren't the colours great? I adore vintage linens and can imagine how thrilled you were with the third parcel. Lovely things for a lovely blogger!

Oh so beautiful Jennifer! That watercolor painting is amazing!!! And I love that fairy doll! It is an amazing community we have here filled with giving and talented people! What a joy to have such treasures! Happy week to you!!! Nicole xoxo

Thankyou for featuring my painting Jennifer, I feel so privileged to be your very first painter of a work of art for your home, yay! My favourite colour's purple too and I love little dolls, this is gorgeous. What a bounty of treats you have there!Jess xx

I certainly agree with you on the "wonderful-ness" of the blogging community! Your prizes are real treasures. I know the excitement of seeing my name as a winner and am always grateful for what someone took the time to offer. So far, my prizes have not been hand made works of art, like yours are! I think your artists are very happy with where their gifts have landed!

What wonderful prizes. I love the fairy.....and the painting is so treasurable (if that's even a word!). Continued success with your winning streak, Jennifer and maybe you should buy a lottery ticket this week, you're on a roll!Thanks for popping over to mine - always lovely to see you there.xxx

Such gorgeous and well deserved giveaway wins, Jennifer! There is something really special about learning you have won a blog giveaway and then receiving the parcel through the post, isn't there? And it is a lovely way to share the crafting connection around the world too! Wishing you a happy week.Helen xox

What luck! And such gorgeous and generous give aways. This blogging world is wonderful. Purple is also my favourite colour, all the best people love purple ;) I love that watercolour, the colours and the detail like you say are just stunning :) Well Done xxx